Corporate Press Officer

Job title: Corporate Press Officer
Reports to: Group Corporate Communications Manager
Department: Corporate Relations
Location: Leeds
Job Grade: P2

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION 

The Corporate Relations division is responsible for promoting and protecting the Channel 4 brand and works seamlessly across the organisation.

We are a strategic, proactive and business-leading function that brings together Corporate Communications & Campaigns, Corporate Brand, Events & Engagement, Executive Communications, Content Communications (Publicity), Internal Communications alongside Policy & Public Affairs. Content Communications also reports to Marketing, while Internal Communications and Policy & Public Affairs report to the People and Strategy & Consumer Insight teams respectively.

The Corporate Communications & Campaigns Team exists to raise Channel 4’s reputation externally, managing issues and driving proactive coverage to support corporate activity, commercial projects, Film4, Sport, Nations & Regions initiatives, diversity and equity, digital performance, products and technology.

We are a friendly, busy and small-but-mighty team. We value diverse perspectives, sharp, disruptive thinking and collaboration – as well as professional development and, of course, fun – and encourage everyone – within and without the team – to deliver their best work.

JOB PURPOSE

The Corporate Press Officers are responsible for helping develop and deliver high impact, creative and integrated public relations campaigns to support Channel 4’s corporate communications strategy. This includes driving awareness of Channel 4 as an organisation – its commercial operations, digital-first consumer product offering, inclusion and equity work and programming – and mitigating reputational risk.

Under the direction of Group Corporate Communications Managers, the Corporate Press Officers will create and deliver proactive, measurable campaigns that support corporate communications strategies and elevate Channel 4 internally and externally.

To support the Corporate Communications team with reputation management, the Corporate Press Officers are required to field and manage or redirect media enquiries, support strategic planning, and undertake daily monitoring and analysis of key media, news outlets and social platforms.

Some travel to London may be required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Group Corporate Communications Manager with campaigns, research, briefings, evaluation reports, media and social monitoring, and ad hoc tasks.
• Support the Head of Executive Communications where required
• Develop and implement creative, innovative and engaging communications which support Channel 4’s corporate strategy and uphold the organisation’s corporate reputation.
• Identify, field and, if appropriate, manage reputational issues, working with the relevant managers to provide either mitigation or handling. This includes preparing Q&As, drafting lines against enquiry, supporting executives and talent and managing media enquiries.
• Write and create press materials – including press releases, briefing notes, Q&As etc.
• Monitor and analyse key media, news outlets and social media platforms for news coverage and commentary to support reputation management.
• Compile media and social coverage and evaluation reports for key corporate campaign activity and relevant industry news, for internal circulation.
• Develop and maintain a network of excellent working relationships with journalists and influencers across a range of media.
• Organise and deliver any events required to support the corporate objectives of Channel 4.
• Working with Group Corporate Communications Manager, manage and update the crisis communications plan.
• Manage and update media contacts lists.
• Develop excellent working relationships with key stakeholders across the business.
• Participate in out of hours duty press officer rota with colleagues in Content Communications.

The duties and responsibilities may vary over time, dependent on business need. Support for reasonable adjustments is available where needed. The role also requires the ability to undertake travel and work unsocial hours as required.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Experience working in corporate communications in a content, media (including digital) or related field.
• A proven track record of delivering high impact, creative and integrated corporate campaigns that incorporate audience-relevant print, broadcast, digital and social/influencer tactics.
• Evidence of managing a portfolio of campaigns and delivering outcomes to deadline.
• Experience of identifying and mitigating issues including writing lines against enquiry and other reputational briefings to deadline.
• Evidence of event management and providing support in terms of logistics, planning and delivering related coverage.
• Passion for the broadcast and wider media industry including an understanding of the latest developments in digital and applying them as appropriate in communications strategies and plans.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills; and excellent people, negotiation skills with the ability to deal with and mediate between senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to form and maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders including a broad range of internal and external stakeholders from senior executives to creatives, talent and PR agencies.
• Good knowledge of Channel 4’s vision, objectives and brand values – and of the wider media industry and current trends.
• A good network of contacts across a range of media (including digital and influencers) with the ability to build new contacts.
• The ability to remain highly focused and flexible while working under pressure and to tight deadlines, demonstrating a clear ability to balance conflicting priorities and demands.
• Fluency in social media and a clear understanding of best practice in a PR context.
• Ability to work with confidence as part of a close-knit team.
• A flexible approach to work which may occasionally require being on-call or working outside office hours.
• Some travel to London may be required.

Hybrid working

From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week. Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week.

All our offices are open five days a week

Basic salary starting at £32,375 dependant on experience